Variable tape drive



March 18, 1958 E. F. KLEINS'CHMIDT ET AL 2,327,245

VARIABLE TAPE DRIVE Filed May 14. 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l EDWARD FKLEINSCHMIDT 95 CARL P ANDERSON 68 INVENTORS March '18, 1958 E. F.KLEINSCHMIDT ET AL ,82

VARIABLE TAPE DRIVE Filed May 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet2 an Q i INVENTORSEDWARD F KLEINSCHMIDT' CARL l? ANDERS N I l l W ATTORN;

E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT ET AL VARIABLE TAPE DRIVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MIA 672770 7 INVENTORS EDWARD F. KLEINSCHMIDT CARL P ANDERS BY 2W ATTOR YSMarch 18, 1958 Filed May 14, 1953 United States Patent O 2,827,245VARIABLE TAPE DRIVE Edward F. Kleinschmidt, Wilmette, and CarlP..Anderson, Evanston, Ill., assignors to Kleinschmidt Laboratories,Inc., Deerfield, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 14,1953, Serial No. 355,002 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-55} This invention relatesto web feeding mechanisms and is more particularly applicable tovariable tape drive mechanisms for feeding a record tape through a workstation operating mechanism such as a recording, sensing or printingstation in a printing telegraph and like machines utilizing recordtapes.

in the art of printing telegraph devices one of the long recognized andheretofore unsuccessfuliy solved problems has been the method ofproperly and efliciently feeding record tape through the machines andthe winding and storing of the tape after it leaves the machine. Thisproblem is particularly difficult when applied to telegraph machinesused in automatic switching exchanges where the devices automaticallyoperate unattended for extended periods and are only periodicallychecked for servicing purposes. In the case of automatically operatinginstallations, it is naturally necessary to provide a suflicient supplyof tape to assure operation of the machine while it is unattended. Thesupply tape which is customarily mounted on supply rolls is usuallyperforated by a suitable mechanism to provide the tape with a continuousrow of feed holes just before the tape reaches a work station in orderto facilitate control of the tape during its advancement through theworkstation. The provision of sufiicient tape for extended periods ofoperation of the machine results in a supply roll of considerable weightand inertia. As a result, when the tape is fed from the supply rollthrough the machine work station to the take-up or storing roll it hasbeen common experience with prior art methods of tape feeding that thetape is frequently torn in the vicinity of the feed holes in the tape,the portion of the tape intermediate adjacent holes not being strongenough to resist the pulling force exerted upon the tape in unwindingthe tape from the heavy supply roll.

Additionally, it is necessary to wind the processed tape on a roll whichcan be easily removed from the reeling mechanism and convenientlystored. The formation of such rolls, after the tape has been processedpresents further problems. Since the diameter of the receiving roll isconstantly changing as it is being wound, in order to maintain thelinear speed of the tape substantially constant it is necessary tocompensate for the constantly changing diameter by providing some methodof variably driving the take-up reel. In prior art devices such asUnited States Letters Patent 2,353,408 to Einer W. Larsen a relativelysatisfactory solution to the problem of linear speed control of thetake-up reel is disclosed wherein a separate electric motor to drive thetake-up reel is provided in conjunction with electrical and mechanicalmeans for controlling the input to the motor to constantly reduce themotor speed as the size of the reel increases. Such a system requires,as heretofore noted, both a mechanical and electrical control system sothat the conditions of the reel are mechanically transmitted to anelectrical control unit such as an auto-transformer which converts themechanical signals into electrical control of the input of the reeldriving motor.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide novel variable tapedriving and reeling or winding means for printing telegraph mechanismwhich overcome the aforementioned difiiculties encountered in prior artdevices, by means of a simple improved construction which assures a morepositive maximum efiicient operation and which 'ice utilizes minimumnumber of inexpensively manufactured, easily serviced elements. Thevariable tape feeding and coiling mechanism of our invention is soconstructed to be immediately and automatically responsive to the supplyneeds of a printing telegraph machine and also immediately andautomatically sensitive to the rate of ejection of the tape from thetelegraph machine to assure efficient withdrawing of tape from thesupply reel and reeling of tape on a take-up reel with no damage to thetape, and which readily permits adaptation of printing telegraphmachines to extend unattended automatic service installations.

it is, therefore, the fundamental object of the present invention toprovide, in a machine utilizing a record tape, means of such improvedconstruction that the tape is automatically withdrawn from a supply,moved through a work station and wound on a take-up reel at an optimumrate to avoid both excessive looseness and tautness of the tape.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide, in a machineutilizing a record tape, improved means for intermittently driving atape take-up reel whereby the rate of rotation of the reel automaticallyprogressively decreases as the diameter of the coil of tape on the reelincreases, thus preventing excessive tautness on the tape as it is fedto the take-up reel at a constant rate of speed from an associatedtelegraph apparatus.

Another object of this invention is the provision of improved tapereeling apparatus having means automatically operative to quickly windup any slack occurring in a recording tape after a period of operationwhen the take-up reel is stopped for some reason while the tapecontinues to be ejected from an associated telegraph ap paratus.

A further object of this invention is the provision of novel stoppingmeans for a take-up reel to prevent rupture of a recording tape ordamage to an associated telegraph machine or the tape mechanism shouldthere be an unauthorized stoppage of tape supply while the take-up reelis still revolving.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel safetydevice in a take-up reel driving mechanism whereby the driving mechanismis allowed to continue to operate while the tape reel is held fromturning thus minimizing danger of damage to the tape or to the tapemechanism.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a noveltake-up reel having removable sides and gripping means to prevent a tapecoil from turning upon the reel during rotation of the reel, andassociated novel driving means for the reel.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel tapefeeding mechanism which will furnish tape to a telegraph machine at aspeed consistent with the demands of said machine.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a noveltape feeding device which will stop supplying tape to a telegraphmachine when the telegraph machine stops even though the drivingmechanism for the tape continues to operate.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel alarmsystem associated with the tape feeding mechanism to indicate itsvarious operating conditions.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a novel,relatively simple, and inexpensive automatic tape feeding and reelingmechanism for association with printing telegraph mechanisms.

These and other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription and appended claims when read in connection with theattached drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the novel drive means for the take-upreel forming a part of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the regulatingand driving mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the novel safetydrive means for the take-up reel;

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged schematic views showing two conditions ofoperation of the improved tape feeding mechanism and alarm systemforming a part of this invention; Figure 6 is an exploded view of theimproved take-up reel;

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of the assembler take-up reel ofFigure 6; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a combination device inwhich a variable tape feed device is incorporated on the supply side andon the take up of a work station.

Take-up reel drive Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown thedetails of the novel drive mechanism for the tape or takeup reel whereinmessage tape it or other recording medium, passes through guide ofsupport 13 up over sensing wire M and then down under guide or snubbingpost 16, rigidly mounted in support 13, to form a loop in the tapeindicated at 18. After tape it? lea es guide post 16 it passes overguide post Eli and under guide post 212, both also rigidly mounted onsupport 13, which serve to properly guide the tape and impart sufficientfrictional resistance to the relative sliding movement of the tape toassure proper functioning of the mechanism to be hereinafter described.The end of the tape is suitably secured to reel 24 to permit winding, asWill be hereinafter described.

Axle Zd rigidly secured to reel 24, to impart rotation thereto, extendsa short distance beyond the outer faces of the reel and terminates atthe right hand as viewed in Figure 7 in enlarged integral end or head255. Bracket 3t) consists of a pair of sheet metal members 31 suitablyjoined at one end, as at 33 as by welding, and extending therefrom inspaced parallel relation. reinforcing ribs secured to the outer faces ofm mbers 31 impart sufficient rigidity to the members to maintain them intheir desired spaced relation. Axle 26 mounted in rotating bearingrelation in slots 32 in the upper end of members 31 is prevented fromaxial shifting by the bearing contact of end 228 and portion 27 engagingopposite surfaces of the right hand member 3i, as viewed in Figure 7,thus maintaining reel 24 axially centered between the members.

The use of slots 32 in the upper end of members Ill permits easy andready removal of reel 24 to remove a roll of tape therefrom or connect anew tape thereto, as will hereinafter become apparent. Spur gear 34rigidly mounted on axle 26, to impart rotation to the axle, meshes withanother spur gear 36 (Figure 2) rigidly secured to the left hand orinner end of drive shaft which is rotatably journaled at opposite endsrespectively in bracket 30 and a bracket eX'te-n 39 secured to bracket31 and shown cut away in Figure 1.

On the outer or right hand end of shat 58, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2,is a unidirectional clutch, of the well known wedg' roller type,consisting of a central driven member 44 ri y mou d shaft havin spacedsubstantially r..dially out ardly e" g arms 4.; which "rotatably supportouter driving member 52 on their peripheries and define with the innerperiphery of member 52 a plurality of wedge shaped slots for carryingspri n g pressed rollers so.

When outer driving member is rotated in a counterclockwise dircction, bymeans to be hereinafter described rollers 48, which are spring-pressedagainst the inner surface of driving ring 52, are caused to roll intothe narrow end of notches 5b and are jammed there thus locking arms 45of inner member 44 to the outer driving ring 52 so that the rotation ofring 52 is imparted to shaft 38 causing the associated gear in acounterclockwise direction.

The outer driving ring 52 has two ears 54 and 56 extending radiallyoutwardly from its outer periphery which fixedly mount posts 58 and 66,respectively. Post 58 extends inwardly towards spur gear 36 and acts asa cam follower coacting with cam surface 62 for a purpose to beexplained, and post extends in an opposite direction and slidably fitsinto slot 64 in one end of link 66, of a driving arm.

The driving arm (Figure 3) consists of two links, an upper link 66, anda lower link 68, operatively fastened together by posts rigidly mountedin the upper link 66, and slidably engaging slots 72 in lower link 65.The lower cad of link 66 has a lateral projection 73 for atlixone end ofa tension spring 74 and the upper end of the member 68 has a similarlateral projection 76 for aflixing the other end of spring 74. Whenspring 74 is in place, projections 73 and 76 of links 66 and 63,respectively, are drawn toward each other so that pins itl engage thetop of slots '72. Spring 74 is strong enough to overcome all the otherspring forces in the device plus all other normal operating resistancesof the mechanism so that the two links 66 and 68 effectively act as aunitary driving arm unless the mechanism is over taxed, in which casethe two members 66 and 68 will act as a safety device and will moverelative to one an other rather than driving the clutch and perhapsdamaging the mechanism, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. Thelower end of link 68 is pivotally connected to one end of arm 7? whichhas its other end rigidly fixed to the shaft 86 so that movement of theshaft is imparted to link 63 through arm 78. Dual arm cam follower 82has one arm 81 rigidly mounted on shaft and the other downwardlydepending arm 83, mounting a roller 79 slightly, shown in Figure l, inbearing contact with cam 34, rigidly mounted for rotation with cam shaft85. Cam shaft 85 derives its rotation from any suitable power sourcesuch as an electric motor (not shown). Rotation of cam shaft 85 impartsa right and left hand oscillatory motion to follower 82 through cam 84,as viewed in Figure 1, which is transmitted through shaft 86 and arm 73to impart an up and down or reciprocal movement to the members 66 and68. Thus it can be seen, by referring to Figure 3, that as the member 66makes its up-stroke the bottom of the slot 64 strikes pin 60 and turnsthe clutch driving member 52 a short dis tance in a counterclockwisedirection. As previously explained inner driven member 44 of the clutchwill he turned in the same direction by the wedging engagement ofrollers 48 with arms i5 and member 52 which will turn take-up reel 24,by means of spur gears 36 and 34, in a clockwise direction.

The means by which the amount of clockwise turning of the tape reel iscontrolled will now be described. Rigidly fixed to bracket 3t? is pivotpost 90 upon which is pivotally mounted an arm, generally indicated at91 comprising a pair of flat strips F2. and 93 fastened together, as bywelding. Strip 93 extends to the right of the pivot post f tl, as viewedin Figures 1 and 2, and has cam section 62 formed on the end forcoaction with post The other strip, 92, also extends to the right ofpivot as and extends upwardly terminating in right anguarly bent end 94-which forms a stop for selective coacting engagement with the rim ofclutch drive memher 52 preventing clockwise rotation of cam 62 to anextent where it will be out of engagement with post 58. Extendingleftwardly, Figures 1 and 2, from pivot post ht? the two strips arelaterally bent to form spaced bracket arms for holding the tape loopsensing wire Wire @3 is bent at one end, in the manner illustrated at 14of Figures 1 and 2, and engages tape loop 18, as hereinbefore described,the other end of the wire fits in suitable apertures in arms 96 andmounts a cylinder 97 36 to also be turned between the arms. Set screw 99threadedly mounted in cylinder 97 tightly engages wire 98 and preventsthe wire from sliding out of brackets 96. The whole arm 91 carrying wire98 is biased in a clockwise direction by the pull of spring 100 attachedat one end of the integral bent ear 102 on cam section 62 and to post104 rigidly secured on mounting bracket 30.

Tension spring 71 connected at one end to opening 75 of drive member 52and at the other end to stationary pin 77 mounted on bracket 30, biasesdrive member 52 in a clockwise direction upon a downward ornon-actuating stroke of link 66 to position member 52 for a succeedingdriving stroke.

Post 58 of driving member 52 of the clutch acts as a cam follower inbearing contact against cam 62 so that as arm 91 is lowered or rotatedcounterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, due to a. shortening of thetape loop 18 which occurs for example; when the peripheral speed of thetake-up reel gets ahead of the speed of the supply reel due to anincrease in the diameter of the take-up reel, cam 62 pushes the post 58.to the right as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 which raises the post 60 alike amount. Due to this raising of the post 60 the bottom of the slot64 of driving arm 66 will strike the post 60 later in its operatingcycle as it makes its upstroke and thus will rotate driving member 52through a shorter distance. As the arm 92 is pulled down farther, cam 62continues to push the post 58 farther to the right until it has raisedpost 60 high enough so that it will not be struck at all by the bottomof slot 64, as the member 66 makes its up-stroke, at this point norotational movement will be imparted to the tape reel 24 and it will notwind any tape. There is provided on the cam surface 62 a radiallyoutwardly extending detent 108 over which post 58 will ride if a manualcounterclockwise force, as observed in Figures 1 and 2, is exerted onthe wire 98, which for example, would be done by an attendant when astoppage of the tape supply was noted by the attendant. When the post 58is forced or rides over detent 108 clutch drive member 52 will be heldin its extreme counterclockwise position, and there will be norotational movement transmitted to the tape reel until the wire 98 ismanually lifted to carry post 58 out of the detent 108 and back on tocam surface 62.

In operation, sensing lever 98 of arm assembly 91 having wire extension14 for engaging loop 18 of the recording tape is caused to be graduallyturned countereloclo wise, as viewed in Figure 1 against the pull ofspring 100 by the decreasing diameter of the loop as the quantity oftape builds up on take-up reel 24. This decreasing of the loop diameteris characteristic of all coiling devices where the speed of the take-upreel and the speed of supply to the reel are constant. As the diameterof the coil of tape on the reel 24 increases, its peripheral speed getsahead of the supply speed and the loop between the supply and take-upreel will be gradually diminished in length. Sensing arm 91 is affectedby this variation of loop size and rotates cam 62, which engagesfollower 58 on the clutch driving member, in a counterclockwisedirection to change the position of driving pin 60 in slot 64 of thereciprocating driving arm. As the driving arm makes an upward stroke thebottom of the slot strikes the driving pin and forces clutch drivingmember 52 to follow to the end of the up-stroke in a counterclockwisedirection. The clutch is so designed, as hereinbefore described, todrive shaft 38 in a counterclockwise direction only and rotate thetake-up reel through the spur gear train in a clockwise direction towind tape 10. When the driving arm returns to its lower position, theclutch driving member 52 is spring returned in a clockwise direction byspring 71 until its follower 58 strikes cam 62 on the loop sensing lever91. The clutch driving member will be returned a shorter distance eachtime due to the constantly decreasing loop size which rotates cam 62 andlimits the degree of return travel of follower 53 before it contacts thecam. As the driving arm makes each succeeding up stroke it will strikeclutch driving pin 60 later in the cycle each time and will carry it ashorter distance thus turning the associated shaft and take-up reelthrough a shorter arc.

It is to be understood that the tape loop will not diminish in size asfast as it would without the above disclosed mechanism as the cam on theend of the sensing lever is designed to allow the peripheral speed ofthe coil to be just slightly in excess of the supply speed at all timesthus maintaining a loop throughout the entire winding procedure.

Tape reel In tape reels of this nature it is desirable to be able toeasily remove the tape from the reel for storage or disposal and insertanother tape to be wound; the following description applies to thedevice for performing this function. Reel 24 shown in exploded view inFig. ure 6, consists of two discs 101 and 103 each with a hollow hub 105and 107. Hub 105 slidably fits within the hub 107 and is provided on itsouter surface with radially outwardly extending post 109 which engagesslot 111 extending diagonally inwardly across the surface of hub 107.Post 109 and slot 111 form a bayonet type lock when the two hubs areassembled together and turned in opposite directions to position post109 at the bottom of slot 111. The surfaces of the discs 101 and 103have their center sections die formed or embossed toward each other toform inwardly extending cylindrical hubs having shoulders 112 and 114,respectively (Figure 7 The distance between these shoulders when thereel is assembled, is slightly less than the width of the cardboard ringor core 116 upon which the tape is coiled, so that when core 116 isplaced upon hub 107 and the two halves 101 and 103 are twisted andlocked together, shoulders 112 and 114 will clampingly engage core 116therebe tween and prevent it from turning. Tape 10 can be attached tothis core 116 by any suitable means, for example, adhesive cellophanetape 118, as illustrated in Figure 6. Coil spring 120 is mounted withinhub 105 in surrounding relation to axle 26 and has an end 122 of thespring attached to the axle as seen in Figure 7. Spring 120 iscompressed when discs 101 and 103 are assembled and exerts a force tothe left, as viewed in Figure 7, against the inside surface of disc 161,which serves to facilitate separating discs 101 and 103 when the reel isbeing unloaded, and also exerts suificient frictional engaging forcebetween post 109 and slot 111 to prevent any inadvertent separation ofthe discs.

Tape puller mechanism As heretofore noted, in mechanisms which require acontinuous supply of intermittently fed tape, it is ad vantageous to useas large a supply roll as possible. As the size of the supply roll isincreased the consequent increase in weight naturally causesconsiderable resistance to the intermittent unwinding required by thetelegraph machine or other associated mechanism. We have invented novelmeans which relieves the receiving mechanism of the burden of pulling orjerking this weight, with the possible result of tearing the tape, andwhich assures supplying the tape to the receiving mechanism under itscontrol and consistent with its demands, which novel means will now befully described.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawing, shaft 233 suitably journalled insupports (not shown) is capable of rotating only in a counterclockwisedirection through its connection with drive or reaction member 2 14 of aunidirectional clutch similar to unidirectional clutch assembly 44 and52. Fixed to shaft 238, and rotating with it, is axially extendingcircumferentially serrated drum 270 over which tape 10 passes afterleaving a supply roll or reel (not shown). Roller 272 is spring pressedtoward drum 270 and serves to hold tape 10 against the serratedcircumference of the drum 270 to cause enough resistance between thedrum 270 and the tape to allow the tape to be pulled from the supplyreel as drum 270 is rotated. Driving member 252 of the unidirectionalclutch, similar to driving member 52 (Figure 2), is intermittentlyturned by reciprocating arm 266 which receives its motion from anysuitable source; for example, intermittently energized solenoid 274. Asensing lever 292 pivoted at 290, and having cam surface 262,corresponding to sensing lever 91 of Figure 2, carries laterallyextending post 214 for engaging loop 21?; of tape 10. Arm 292 and itsassociated cam surface 262 are biased in a counterclockwise direction bythe biasing force of tension spring 300, connected at one end to offsetprojection 301 of arm 292and at the other end to stationary pin 303.Tension spring 305 is similarly connected at one end to pin 303 and issecured at the other end to projection 307 of drive member 252, andserves to bias the drive member in a clockwise direction forcing pin 258against cam surface 262. Sprocket 302 is used in this illustration toschematically indicate the receiving mechanism utilizing the suppliedtape, and which revolves intermittently at the same rate of speed asdrum 270. The receiving mechanism symbolized by sprocket 302 may be anydevice for performing a function upon the tape as for example, a sensingor recording station.

The above described mechanism operates in the following manner: Sensingarm 292 is shown in Figure 4- in its normal operating position duringregular operation of the mechanism; in this position tape 10 will bepulled from the supply reel by the rotation of drum 226 an amountexactly equal to the amount that the tape is moved leftwardly as viewedin Figure 4 by sprocket 302, each time the arm 266 makes a down strokewhich rotates drive member 252 and consequently drum 27?; in acounterclockwise direction. In actual application of this mechanism, theamount that the tape 10 will be pulled by revolving drum 270 is notconstant, since a slight slippage of tape 10 on drum 270 can occur whenthe tape is being pulled from a full supply reel. When slipping occursthe correct amount of tape is not being supplied to the receivingsprocket and in consequence loop 218 will become smaller. The decreasingof loop 213 will draw laterally extending post 214- upwardly, as viewedin Figure 4, causing arm 292 to rotate in a clockwise direction rotatingcam 262 to a low point which effectively decreases the distance betweenpivot 2% and the contact point of the cam. Spring 305 maintains follower258 in contact with cam surface 262 and will consequently rotate drivemember 252 clockwise to raise driving post 260 within slot 264, whichwill cause post 260 to be struck sooner during the downward operatingstroke of arm 266. Thus driving ring 252, driven men ber of the clutch,and drum 270 will be tuned slightly more than the normal amount to keepthe supply of tape 19 equal to the demand of the sprocket, and the loopwill increase in size to allow the sensing arm 2592 to rcapproach itsnormal position. It can be readily seen that small variations of speedat either the pulling mechanism or the receiving mechanism will becompensated for by this device. If the receiving mechanism should stop,the tape will continue to be supplied until the sensing arm 292 drops toits lowest position as shown in Figure 5 which will cause ring 252 to beturned to its extreme counterclockwise position moving post 260 to itslowest position. In this position arm 266 will continue to reciprocatefreely without driving the ring 252 and associated tape pulling drum270, and no tape will be drawn from the supply reel.

Alarm mechanism A signal for keeping an attendant informed of thecondition of movement of tape may be associated with the above describeddevice in the following'manner: As clearly seen in Figures 4 and 5contact lever 304, having three legs 306, 308 and 310, is mounted forfree pivotal movement at 312. The lower leg 306 loosely engages notch314 in the hub of the sensing arm 292, this notch 314 is wide enough toallow sensing arm 292 to rotate in either direction a predeterminedamount without interfering with the leg 306. Tension spring 309connected at one end to stationary post 311 and at the other end to arm310 of lever 304- normally biases leg 306 into notch 314. Therightwardly extending leg 308 as viewed in Figure 4 projects into thepath of the lower end of driving arm and is struck by the bottom of thedriving arm upon each downward stroke. Upwardly extending arm 310 isassociated with a pair of spring type electrical contacts 316 which arenormally biased apart to open the associated circuit. In this particularembodiment, arm 310 under the biasing force of spring 309, normallyengages and closes contacts 316. Each time the driving arm 266 makes adownward stroke, arm 310 is rotated clockwise away from the contacts topermit them to separate to their normal separated position as is clearlyseen in Figure 5. Thus, during normal operations of the mechanism asignal light 318 will be flashed for each stroke of reciprocating arm266.

Each such pivotal movement of lever 304 momentarily disengages arm 306from notch 314. if for some reason a stoppage of the sprocket 302 shouldoccur, sensing arm 292 will be dropped due to a lengthening of loop 218and its hub 313 rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFigure 5. This rotation will cause notch 314 to be rotated out of thepath of the leg 306 and the surface of hub 313 will prevent the leg 306from oscillating by holding leg 306 in its extreme leftward position asillustrated in Figure 5. This will in turn hold the memher 308 in itslowermost position to prevent it from being struck by reciprocatingdriving arm 266. Upper arm 310 will also be held away from contacts 316so that the circuit will be opened and signal light 318 will cease toflash. The above described signal will also be given when tape loop 218becomes smaller than normal due to insuificient tape being supplied tothe receiving sprocket. In this case sensing arm 292 will be raised orrotated about pivot 290 in a clockwise direction, and the leg 306 oflever 310 will be retained in its extreme leftward position by hubportion 315 below notch 314 and upper arm 310 will again be out ofcontact with contacts 316 so that the circuit will be open and flashingof light 318 will cease.

Considering Figures 1, 4, 5 and 8 a brief resume of the completeoperation of our novel tape feeding and reeling device will now bedescribed.

Tape 10 extends from a supply reel (Fig. 8) located to the right ofFigures 4 and 5, over drum 270, under post 214 to the receivingmechanism schematically indicated as sprocket 302. From the receivingmechanism, tape 10 passes under guide 12 over'wire 14 and alternatelyunder and over guide posts 16, 20 and 22 to take-up reel 24. Tape 10 isfed to the receiving mechanism commensurate with its demands whichdemands are relayed to the feed mechanism by the size of tape loop 218.That is, if the demand of the receiving mechanism is greater than thefeed, loop 218 will decrease rotating arm 292 clockwise to position post260 nearer the top of slot 264 which Will result in arm 266 moving post260 and consequently feed drum 270 a greater counterclockwise distanceto pull more tape from the supply reel. If for some operational reasonthe supply of tape is wholly inadequate, loop 218 will decreasesufficiently to rotate arm 292 clockwise a sufiicient distance so thatleg 306 is held in its leftmost position by hub 315. In this positionlight 318 will cease to flash giving the operator a warning ofmalfunction. Conversely should the feed exceed the demands of thereceiving mechanism 302 or should the mechanism stop altogether loop 218will increase in size permitting spring 300 to lower or rotate arm 292in a counterclockwise direction which will have the effect of movingpost 269 farther away from the top of slot 264 and result in less feedrotation of drum 270. if the receiving mechanism is completely stoppedloop 218 will increase to such a size to permit spring 300 to rotate arm292 to a point where leg 306 is held against hub 313. In this positionpin 260 will not be struck at all by arm 26d and no tape will be fed.Additionally, as hereinbefore described, in this condition of leg 306,contacts 516 will be separated and light 318 will cease to flash thusWarning the operator of malfunction.

As the tape is ejected from the receiving mechanism it passes to take-upreel 24 which like the feed mechanism is similarly sensitive andresponsive to operating conditions. The size of loop 18 controls sensinglever 91 to give the proper setting to the take-up reel drive mechanism.if tape is being ejected at a greater rate than it is being wound on thetake-up reel, lever 91 rotates clockwise due to the increase in loopsize and biasing force of spring lltlti to position post 60 nearer thebot-tom of slot 64 which results in a greater rotation of clutch id-52and consequently reel 24. Conversely if the reel is winding too rapidlyloop 3.8 decreases rotating arm 91 counterclockwise to move post 61 awayfrom the bottom of slot 54 and consequently decrease the amount ofrotation of reel Should tape fail to be ejected from the receivingmechanism altogether arm 91 will be rotated counterclockwisesufficiently to pass detent 108 over follower 58 which will hold post 60in a position where it can never be struck by the bottom of slot 64, sothat even though the electric drive motor (not shown) continues toactuate shaft 353 and the associated mechanism to move driving links 66and 68 the reel will not turn.

in this type of coiling or reeling device the peripheral speed of reel24 will increase as the tape accumulates thereon and increases thediameter. This increase in speed will have a tendency to decrease loop18 and sensing lever 91 will be incrementally moved counterclockwise tolimit the return or clockwise rotation of drive member 52 under thebiasing force of spring 74. As a result reel 2. 5 will be progressivelyrotated a lesser amount thus compensating for the increasing diametricsize and linear speed of the reel. The aforementioned sensing mechanism,however, is so constructed to allow the peripheral speed of reel 24 tobe just slightly in excess of the supply speed so that a loop will bemaintained throughout the winding procedure; whereas, without the novelsensing mechanism the peripheral speed of the reel would greatly exceedthe supply to a point where there would be no loop and the tape would beput under severe tension with consequent tearing of the tape or damageto the mechanism.

Tape can be easily connected to or removed after Winding by theprovision of the novel separable reel illustrated in Figure 6 andhereinbeiore described.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we haveinvented novel automatic feeding and reeling means for recording tapefor association with automatic printing telegraphs that is completelysensitive to all operating conditions and variations in operatingconditions to assure efficient feeding and winding with no damage to thetape, tape mechanism or associated telegraph mechanisms and which isrelatively simple and inexpensively manufactured.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come Within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired by United States Letters Patent is:

1. in tape feeding apparatus; a member for moving a tape; motive meansfor said tape moving member including a unidirectional driven meansdrive connected to said tape moving member, a bidirectional drivingmeans and unidirectional clutch device operatively connecting saiddriving and driven means, said bidirectional driving means including anadjustable linkage enabling the range of bidirectional movement of theportion of said bidirectional means operatively connected to saidunidirectional clutch device to be varied; and sensing means operativelyengageable with said portion of said bidirectional driving means andresponsive to tautness in the tape being moved to adjust said adjustablelinkage whereby said tape moving member is variably driven in accordancewith tautness in the tape.

2. in a tape coiling apparatus, tape guide structure, a tape take-upreel for winding tape passing; from said guide structure; aunidirectional clutch having a driven member operatively connected tosaid reel and a driving member; actuating means, including anautomatically variable linkage, for imparting intermittent drivemovement to the driving member of said clutch; a cam operativelycoacting with said clutch driving member; and a pivotally mounted armconnected with said cam, operatively engaging the tape and responsive totautness in the tape to selectively vary the position of said camwhereby selective positioning of the cam causes a variation, resultingfrom variation in said variable linkage, in the degree of movement whichcan be imparted to said clutch driving member from the actuating meansthus causing an effective variation of the movement of said reel to keepthe winding action of the reel in step with the speed of supply of thetape.

3. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a unidirectional clutch having adriven member, operatively connected with said shaft, and a drivingmember; a projection on said driving member; a driving means with an armhaving an automatically variable range of movement and with alongitudinal slot slidably containing said projection on said drivingmember; means for reciprocating said driving arm to cause an edge ofsaid slot to strike the projection of the clutch driving member toimpart movement to said clutch driving member and rotate said shaft, andmeans to adjust said projection with respect to said arm to selectivelyincrease or decrease the range of movement of said arm and the resultantturning of said driving member and thereby control the rotation of saidshaft.

4. In a tape coiling apparatus, a tape supply device; a take-up reel forwinding a tape from said supply; a unidirectional and selectivelymovable clutch with driving means and driven means; a post operativelyconnected to the driving means of said clutch; means operativelyconnecting the driven means of said clutch to said takeup reel; areciprocating driving arm connected to the driving means of said clutchfor driving said clutch; a tape sensing arm operatively engaging tapefrom said supply and responsive to tautness in the tape; a cam connectedto said arm coacting with said post on said unidirectional clutch tovary the range of movement of said driving means of said clutch inresponse to tautness in the tape; and means for engaging said post andretaining said clutch in an inoperable position to prevent excessivetautness from being imposed on the tape.

5. In a tape coiling apparatus, a tape supply device, a take-up reel forwinding tape from said supply device; means for causing resistance tothe passage of the tape from the supply to the reel; a rotatableunidirectional clutch having a reaction member; torque transmittingmeans between said take-up reel and said reaction member of said clutch;actuating means connected to a driving member of said clutch tointermittently actuate said clutch; a cam coacting with the clutchdriving member to control its degree of rotation; a pivotally mountedarm connected to said cam operatively engaging and responsive to thetautness in the tape passing between said supply device and the take-upreel, said arm being variably 1 1 positioned in accordance with thetautness of the tape to move said cam and control the degree of rotationof said driving member whereby the degree of winding of the reel iscontrolled to prevent damage to the tape and coiling apparatus.

6. In tape winding apparatus, a support; a take-up reel rotatablymounted on said support for winding a tape; a rotatable shaftoperatively connected to said reel for imparting rotation to said reel;a clutch comprising a driven member operatively connected to said shaftand a selectively positionable driving member; actuator for moving saiddriving member to drive said driven member and reel; means defining avariable driving connection between said driving member and actuator forvariably driving said driving member; motive means for imparting motionto said actuator; means defining an operative connection between saidmotive means and actuator for converting continuous motion of saidmotive means to intermittent motion of said actuator and intermittentrotation of said reel; and sensing means operatively engageable withsaid clutch and responsive to the tautness of a tape being wound forautomatically selectively positioning said driving member and varyingsaid driving connection between said actuator and driving member wherebythe amount of movement of said reel is Varied for varying operatingconditions.

7. In tape winding apparatus, a support; a take-up reel rotatablymounted on said support for winding a tape; a rotatable shaftoperatively connected to said reel for imparting rotation of said reel;a unidirectional rotatable clutch comprising a driven member operativelyconnected to said shaft and a selectively positionable driving member; areciprocable arm for moving said driving member to drive said drivenmember and reel; means defining a variable driving connection betweensaid driving member and reciprocable arm; motive means for impartingmotion to said reciprocable arm; means defining an operative connectionbetween said motive means and reciprocable arm for converting continuousmotion of said motive means to intermittent reciprocable motion of saidarm;

and a pivotally mounted sensing lever operatively engageable with saidclutch and responsive to the tautness of a tape being wound forautomatically positioning said driving member and varying said drivingconnection between said reciprocable arm and driving member whereby theamount of movement of said reel is varied for varying operatingconditions.

8. The device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said reciprocable armcomprises a pair of slidably connected links; and spring meansoperatively holding said links together for unitary reciprocablemovement and defining safety means whereby normal force will cause saidlinks to unitarily reciprocate and abnormal force transmitted to saidreciprocable arm will cause said links to move relative to each otherthereby preventing abnormal force from being transmitted to said clutchand reel mechanisms.

9. In tape feeding apparatus, a feeding member for moving a tape; aclutch comprising a driven member operatively connected to said feedingmember and a selectively positionable driving member for driving saiddriven member; and actuator for intermittently actuating said drivingmember to intermittently move said feeding member; means defining avariable driving connection between said driving member and actuator forvariably driving said driving member; sensing means operativelyengageable with said clutch and responsive to the tautness of a tapebeing moved for automatically selectively positioning said drivingmember and varyingsaid driving connection between said actuator anddriving member to vary the amount of movement of said feeding member forvarying operating conditions; signal means to indicate operatingconditions of said feeding apparatus; and

means operatively associated with and engageable by said actuator andsensing means for transmitting operating conditions to said signalmeans.

10. In tape feeding apparatus, a feeding member for moving a tape; aunidirectional rotatable clutch comprising a driven member operativelyconnected to said feeding member and a selectively positionable drivingmem ber for variably driving said driven member; a reciprocable arm forintermittently actuating said driving member to intermittently move saidfeeding member; means defining a variable driving connection betweensaid driving member and reciprocable arm for variably driving saiddriving member; a pivotally mounted sensing lever operatively engageablewith said clutch and responsive to the tautness of a tape being fed forautomatically selectively positioning said driving member and varyingsaid driving connection between said reciprocable arm and driving memberto vary the amount of movement of said feeding member for varyingoperatin conditions; signal means to indicate operating conditions ofsaid feeding apparatus; and means operatively associated with andengageable by said reciprocable arm and sensing lever for transmittingoperating conditions to said signal means.

11. In tape feeding apparatus, a feeding member for moving a tape; aunidirectional rotatable clutch comprising a driven member operativelyconnected to said feeding member and a selectively positionable drivingmember for variably driving said driven member, a reciprocable arm forintermittently actuating said driving member to intermittently move saidfeeding member; means defining a variable driving connection betweensaid driving member and reciprocable arm for variably driving saiddriving member; a pivotally mounted sensing lever operatively engageablewith said clutch and responsive to the tantness of a tape being fed toautomatically selectively position said driving member and vary saiddriving connection to vary the amount of movement of said feeding meansfor varying operating conditions; electric signal means, havingresiliently spaced contacts, to indicate operating conditions of saidfeeding apparatus; and means, engageable with said contacts resilientlybiased to contact closing position, operatively associated with andengageable by said reciprocable arm and sensing lever, intermittentlymoved by said arm to permit opening of said contacts to produceintermittent signals of normal operation and moved by said sensing leverto inoperative positions to prevent transmission of a signal to indicateabnormal operation of said feeding apparatus.

12. The device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said movable meanscomprises a pivotally mounted actuating lever resiliently biased tocontact closing position to permit transmission of a signal andintermittently moved away from said contacts during an actuating strokeof said arm permitting intermittent opening of said contacts to providean intermittent signal during normal operation and moved by said sensinglever under abnormal conditions to hold said actuating lever away fromsaid contacts to prevent a signal and thereby indicate abnormaloperation of said feeding mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,071,545 Armstrong Aug. 26, 1913 1,172,733 Raber Feb. 22, 19161,882,578 Hardman Oct. 11, 1932 1,988,284 Raiche Jan. 15, 1935 2,055,785Crowther Sept. 29, 1936 2,203,354 Harrington et al. June 4, 19402,310,947 Fischer Feb. 16, 1943 2,563,198 Thalhammer Aug. 7, 19512,600,409 Lippert June 17, 1952 2,705,600 Wakefield Apr. 5, 1955 FOREIGNPATENTS 294,139 Germany Sept. 13, 1916 659,872 Germany May 16, 1938

